Why is Circus Circus so Cheap: Everything You Need To Know

Whenever I compare hotel prices in Las Vegas, Circus Circus always comes up as the cheapest option on the Strip. But if you actually take a look at the reviews online, the hotel scores way below average.

And that begs the question, why is Circus Circus so cheap? Is it actually a decent resort? I decided to stay at the hotel and find out.

Why is Circus Circus Las Vegas so Cheap? Circus Circus is cheap because it’s one of the oldest hotels on the Las Vegas Strip. The rooms are outdated and lack the amenities offered by the top Las Vegas resorts. Circus Circus is also isolated on the north end of the Strip, far away from most of the other casinos.

Although Circus Circus is outdated compared to many of the other Las Vegas resorts, there’s no denying it offers the best prices. Let’s take a deeper look at why Circus Circus is so cheap, and whether or not it’s worth booking a room.

What Makes Circus Circus So Cheap

Before I get into my experience with Circus Circus Las Vegas, I’d first like to point out the difference between the actual resort and the Manor Motor Lodge.

The rooms you see online for under $20 are for the Circus Circus Manor Motor Lodge, which is located behind the casino resort. The Manor Motor Lodge is a bunch of 3-story motel buildings that were bought by Circus Circus a few years ago. It’s about a 10-minute walk away from the casino, which connects the buildings with a sky-bridge.

The cheaper hotel section at Circus Circus Las Vegas. The most affordable hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. — Circus Circus Las Vegas

These are the rooms where you see a bunch of poor reviews. I’m not going to get into how bad the manor rooms are (you can find plenty of complaints online) but instead, I’m going to focus the rest of the review on the rooms that are located in the main Circus Circus building. My advice is to just avoid the Circus Circus Manor Motor Lodge altogether.

The main resort is actually a decent hotel. Yes, it’s a little dated for a hotel on the Strip, but for $40 a night, you kind of have to expect that. Overall, I recommend staying at the main resort (West Tower, Skyrise Tower, and Casino Tower rooms) if you’re on a tight budget. There are just a few things that you’ll want to be aware of at Circus Circus:

There’s a $32 mandatory daily resort fee
Circus Circus is located far away from the action on the Strip
Rooms are very basic (small, no refrigerator, no minibar)
Furniture in the rooms is older
The walls at Circus Circus are thin (not very soundproof)
Mild cleanliness issues are common throughout the resort
Lots of families stay at the hotel
The Circus Circus casino floor smells musky (from smokers)

Circus Circus Las Vegas Is More Expensive Than It Seems

Nightly rates for $30 or $40 a night are extremely deceptive. The base rate for a room may be $40, but Circus Circus charges an additional daily resort fee of $32. Resort fees cover amenities like Wi-Fi, pools, and gym access, but you’re required to pay them even if you don’t use the amenities.

Resort fees are misleading because they aren’t charged when you initially book your room. They are charged when you check out of the hotel. And there is no way to avoid paying them.

So to give you an example, a $40 room is actually going to cost you $80 a night once you factor in the resort fee, applicable taxes, and other fees.

Base Rate	$40
Daily Circus Circus Resort Fee	$32
Taxes	$8
Total (per night)	$80

Circus Circus Las Vegas isn’t the only hotel that charges a resort fee. In fact, the vast majority of Las Vegas resorts do the same thing. It’s just something to be aware of when you book. The room may look super cheap, but you always end up paying more than the advertised rate.

With all that being said, resort fees shouldn’t be a reason to avoid Circus Circus. Even with the $32 daily resort fee, it’s still the cheapest hotel on the Las Vegas Strip.

Circus Circus Is Dated Compared To Other Vegas Hotels

Circus Circus is one of the oldest properties on the Strip. They have done some small renovations, but from its decor, you can clearly tell the hotel isn’t as modern as its competitors.

The rooms at Circus Circus are a bit small and lack basic amenities like a refrigerator, and clothes hangers (although there is a closet). The furniture in some of the rooms is a bit worn, you’ll notice some scratches on the draws and table stand (not what you expect at a hotel on the Las Vegas Strip).

The walls at the Circus Circus hotel are also very thin, so if you have a loud or annoying neighbor you may run into some issues. But the rooms do have:

A desk
Hairdryer
Safe
Air-conditioning
Free Wi-Fi
Flat-screen TV
Decent mattresses
A bed

As far as the resort goes, you obviously have the casino, but you also have a pool, fitness center, hair salon, carnival, and adventure dome (I’ll talk about this more later). Circus Circus does not have a spa.

While the resort does have a few restaurants, I find the choices to be limited compared to other hotels on the Strip. The shopping options at Circus Circus are a bit limited too. There are a ton of gift shops, but few traditional retail stores.

The Circus Circus Hotel Doesn’t Have The Best Location

If you want to visit another casino on the Las Vegas Strip, you’re probably going to need to take a cab (or Uber/Lyft). Circus Circus is located on the north end of the Strip between the Wynn and the Strat. It’s a 15-minute walk to the nearest hotel (Wynn) and a 30-minute walk to the center of the Strip, so most people aren’t going to want to walk. The surrounding simply aren’t great.

If you just plan on staying at Circus Circus for your entire trip to Vegas, then this isn’t a problem. But if you want to check out other casinos, staying at Circus Circus is almost like staying off of the Strip. It’s that far away from the action.

Circus Circus Has Some Cleanliness Issues

Circus Circus as a whole has a reputation for having cleanliness issues. This includes the dirty windows in many of the hotel rooms and the musky smell on the casino floor. This isn’t uncommon in Las Vegas since most hotels allow people to smoke, but it’s particularly bad here. If you’re sensitive to smoke, take this into account before booking a room at Circus Circus.

The issue is much worse in the Circus Circus Manor Motor Lodge than in the actual resort, but it’s still worth mentioning. In my experience, the hotel wasn’t dirty enough for me to say it’s a dump, but it’s noticeable. Out of all the casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, I would say the Circus Circus hotel would benefit the most from a deep cleaning.

Benefits Of Staying At Circus Circus Las Vegas

With all the issues that Circus Circus has, there are still some benefits to staying here. They include:

Free Wi-Fi
Free self-parking
Cheap nightly rates
Great for families
Cheap food at the buffet

Besides the cheap rates, you also get free parking and free Wi-Fi at the hotel (although you can argue you pay for those with your resort fee). Circus Circus Las Vegas is also the most family-friendly hotel on the Vegas Strip. There are a ton of things for kids to do and see at Circus Circus. There are some of the attractions that are great for entertainment:

Free circus acts
Carnival games
Splash Zone Pool
Adventuredome (pictured below)

The Circus Circus Adventuredome in Las Vegas. A cheap way to have some fun. — Circus Circus Adventuredome

There are about a dozen different free circus acts, which start around 11:30 am and go until midnight. The performances range from trapeze tricks and gymnastics to clowns and juggling acts. These circus acts are free for both Circus Circus hotel guests and visitors.

The Midway Carnival has over 200 of the most popular carnival games at Circus Circus, where you can win prizes. The cost of most games is a dollar or less, which is a great deal.

The Splash Zone has a water playground, huge slides, and whirlpools. If book a stay at Circus Circus you get 4 free passes per room. You have the choice to buy more at the desk if you need them. This is one of the few water parks on the Las Vegas Strip.

The Adventuredome has a bunch of theme park rides like roller coasters, carousels, mini-golf, and a 4D theater. A day pass at the Circus Circus Adventruedome costs $40 for adults and $20 for kids. Once you’re inside the place, all of the rides are free.

Should You Stay At Circus Circus in Las Vegas?

Now that we’ve answered the question of why is Circus Circus so cheap, let’s compare it to some alternatives. The Circus Circus

I would recommend Circus Circus to anyone who is on a budget or is bringing children with them to Las Vegas. If you’re looking for a luxury vacation, Circus Circus is not the hotel you should be staying at. Although, if you’re just sleeping in the hotel room and doing other activities during the day, Circus Circus is a suitable option.

This Las Vegas hotel gets a lot of mixed reviews online. But if you stay at the main resort and avoid the Manor Motor Lodge, you’ll enjoy your time at Circus Circus. In my opinion, the property has a very comparable atmosphere to Excalibur. However, the cigarette smoke can be an issue.

It’s one of the most affordable Las Vegas hotels on the Strip. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a cheaper option than the Circus Circus Hotel in all of Las Vegas. The free parking for all guests is also nice if you’re renting a car from Las Vegas airport.